Boys basketball notes: As Dominic Jankowski nears Grayslake North’s career scoring record, will more colleges inquire?

Grayslake North guard Dominic Jankowski was aiming high during his freshman season.

That’s when the idea of playing college basketball first trickled into his mind, and Jankowski has done enough over the years to make that a reality.

It’s just a matter of figuring out where.

“Even during this summer, I didn’t have a ton of interest,” Jankowski said. “But it seems like every time I put up big numbers, someone else gets in touch. Every time I go on the court, I tell myself there’s a coach in the stands watching.”

That motivational mindset has worked wonders so far this season. Jankowski, who entered the week needing 275 points to become Grayslake North’s all-time leading scorer, has averaged 20.0 points and 5.0 rebounds.

He scored a school-record 46 points in an 87-58 win against Streamwood on Nov. 23, during an opening week in which he shot 65% from the field, and he scored 38 in a 69-68 double-overtime Northern Lake County Conference win against Wauconda on Wednesday.

He accounted for exactly half of the Knights’ 36 points in a 37-36 loss to conference favorite Grayslake Central on Saturday.

“I don’t know why more schools haven’t responded,” Grayslake North coach Josh Feinzimer said. “He’s one of the most coachable kids I’ve had, and his numbers speak for themselves. He’ll definitely be an asset to whatever program he ends up at.”

Jankowski averaged 16.0 points and 3.6 rebounds during a solid junior season that got him onto college programs’ radars.

The first wave of recruiting interest came over the summer, when some Division III programs reached out. Jankowski has made it known that Division II or the NAIA is where he believes his game best projects.

He recently heard from two Division II programs, Hillsdale and Lewis, and he received a text message from Goshen, an NAIA program in Indiana, on Sunday morning. He said he’ll arrange a visit to Goshen soon.

“I’ve just been keeping everyone in the loop and keeping my options open,” Jankowski said.

In the meantime, he’s trying to remain focused on his play and lead the Knights (4-6) to as many wins as possible this season.

“It has been kind of stressful,” he said. “But I know in the end that as long as I keep playing like I have been, college will take care of itself.”

Moschin in motion: Sophomore point guard Simon Moschin has made a smooth transition to Highland Park’s varsity team.

But while discussing that, Moschin mentions himself last.

“The success I’m having I fully attribute to my coaches and our seniors,” he said. “Coming in as a young player, there could be more pressure, there are more people watching and it could have been much more difficult than it’s been. Everyone’s been so supportive.”

Because of that strong support system, Moschin’s confidence level hasn’t wavered. It has better enabled him to focus on his favorite part of basketball: getting teammates involved. He’s averaging 12.0 points and 3.0 assists for the Giants (3-7).

“He’s fearless, and he plays with a lot of moxie,” Highland Park coach Ross Deutsch said. “When it comes to learning, he’s a sponge. You only have to tell him something once.”

The 5-foot-9, 135-pound Moschin was told before the season to brace himself for the increased speed and physicality. He said it has been difficult to adapt to both. The speed becomes more manageable each game, and the physicality can be addressed in the weight room in the offseason.

“I’ve been more comfortable staying outside shooting threes, but I’d like to start getting into the lane,” Moschin said. “This year is an awesome learning experience.”

Wolf makes leap too: Another sophomore guard, Warren’s Jack Wolf, made a splash in his first week at the varsity level.

The 6-3 Wolf scored 22 points in the first half of his second game, a 69-40 win against Comer on Nov. 22.

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“That was a fun game because everything was working,” he said. “Everything is new to me, but that made me think, ‘I got this.’”

It seems like Wolf does, and much of the reason is pretty simple. He has a good outside shooting touch. Entering the weekend, he led the Blue Devils (6-3) in 3-pointers made and was averaging 10.0 points.

“Any jump from the lower levels is tough,” first-year Warren coach Zach Ryan said. “But so far we’ve been really happy with what he’s given the team.”

Wolf’s perimeter shooting provides a complement to Warren’s strong frontcourt of Adam Panek and Alex Daniels. But Wolf knows there’s far more to develop in his game.

He has also gotten better about putting things behind him.

“In the past, I’ve sometimes gotten in my own head when things aren’t going perfectly,” he said. “But now I know that you can’t be a good shooter if you don’t keep shooting.”

Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.